Lewis Howes: Material Mask: Part IV – What Can You Do Now?

When Lewis Howes sat down with Tony Robbins on a few instance, I still remember the story Tony told. I know this story from the back of my mind, and shockingly enough, Sir John Templeton (who I gave a bad rap on his Tedx for because his on-stage presence and attire – lol!) told him about the essence of giving.

What’s that story?

“I said, ‘Hi,’ I think he said his name was Ronny, and I said, ‘Ronny, you’re a class act. I saw you open the door for your lady, I saw you hold out the chair for your lady.’ He goes, ‘She’s my mom.’ I said, ‘That’s even more classy.’”

Tony commended him for taking his mom out to lunch. The kid looked at him with a serious face the way young kids do who haven’t learned how to joke around yet, and he said, “I’m not really taking her to lunch. I’m just 11 and I don’t have a job.”
Without even thinking about it, Tony gave the kid all the money in his pocket—basically all he had left in the world—so he could take his mother out to lunch. Then he walked out of the restaurant and went on with his life.

Think about that: Tony had no money, no way to pay his rent, and he was going to have to consider going hungry for his next several meals. Yet he was euphoric. He told me he basically flew home, he felt so proud of himself.

The next day, he checked his mail and found a letter from a guy he’d been hounding about a business transaction for months, who hadn’t returned his calls. In the letter was a check for $1,000 plus interest, and an apology.

Tony began to cry. How could something like that happen? Were the two events related? He told me he decided that they were:

“I don’t know if it’s true, but I decided that day that this happened because I did the right thing. Because I didn’t have a plan, it wasn’t a strategy, I always felt this little soul beside me, I knew what was right, and I did it. I didn’t do it because I thought I could or I couldn’t, I didn’t even think about it, and that’s the day I became a wealthy man, because I still didn’t have any money, but scarcity left my body. I’ve had plenty of ups and downs since that time, but I never went back to that fearful mindset of, “Oh my God, how’s it going to happen?” – Tony Robbins

Excerpt From: Lewis Howes. “The Mask of Masculinity.” iBooks.

Lewis Howes went on to say that what Tony was describing at that present time was the Material Mask being ripped off. It was no longer about him, his indecision, scarcity and being broke on so many levels because of wanting the luxury of things.

When Lewis Howes did the interview in Tony’s private jet, Tony didn’t talk so much about the figures, but more about what his accomplishments and especially feeding people all over the planet. There was a time that a neighbor gave his family a full thanksgiving dinner – which was too much to bear for his father, whom later walked out on Tony and his mother. Can you imagine that? Since then, Tony went on a venture to feed as many people around the planet as he can.

Do you hear about those humanitarian rewards with Tai?

What Can You Do Right Now?

“What we need to realize is that we are valuable, regardless of what we have. We need to recognize that, while living behind the Material Mask, there will never be such a thing as “enough” when it comes to a sufficient sense of self-worth as a man.” – Lewis Howes

Here is what you can do to practice gratitude on a daily basis. I do many of these myself, and you can start them right now:

1.When you wake up, take out your journal and write down three things for which you’re grateful.

2.Before you go to sleep, ask the last person you talk to three things they are most grateful for from the day, and in reply tell them what you are grateful for from the day too.

3.My voicemail message asks people to share what they are most grateful for when they leave a message. Feel free to copy the idea.

4.Start meetings with your team or business partners with a moment that allows everyone to share what they are grateful for.

5.Acknowledge people daily with a few words that express what you’re grateful for about them.”